diff --git a/backend/src/appenlight/__init__.py b/backend/src/appenlight/__init__.py
index 62d32a3..3b46dcd 100644
--- a/backend/src/appenlight/__init__.py
+++ b/backend/src/appenlight/__init__.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import appenlight.lib.encryption as encryption
 from pyramid.config import PHASE3_CONFIG
 from pyramid.authentication import AuthTktAuthenticationPolicy
 from pyramid.authorization import ACLAuthorizationPolicy
-from pyramid_mailer.mailer import Mailer
+from pyramid_mailer.interfaces import IMailer
 from pyramid.renderers import JSON
 from pyramid_redis_sessions import session_factory_from_settings
 from pyramid.settings import asbool, aslist
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ def main(global_config, **settings):
     config.include('pyramid_redis_sessions')
     config.include('pyramid_tm')
     config.include('pyramid_jinja2')
+    config.include('pyramid_mailer')
     config.include('appenlight_client.ext.pyramid_tween')
     config.include('ziggurat_foundations.ext.pyramid.sign_in')
     es_server_list = aslist(settings['elasticsearch.nodes'])
@@ -154,8 +155,8 @@ def main(global_config, **settings):
 
     config.registry.redis_lockmgr = Redlock([settings['redis.redlock.url'], ],
                                             retry_count=0, retry_delay=0)
-    # mailer
-    config.registry.mailer = Mailer.from_settings(settings)
+    # mailer bw compat
+    config.registry.mailer = config.registry.getUtility(IMailer)
 
     # Configure sessions
     session_factory = session_factory_from_settings(settings)
diff --git a/backend/src/appenlight/tests/conftest.py b/backend/src/appenlight/tests/conftest.py
index 3855f15..1801b24 100644
--- a/backend/src/appenlight/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/backend/src/appenlight/tests/conftest.py
@@ -27,11 +27,12 @@ from zope.sqlalchemy import mark_changed
 from pyramid.paster import get_appsettings
 from pyramid import testing
 
-from appenlight.models import Base, DBSession
-
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def base_app(request):
+def base_app(request, mocker):
+    # disable email sending
+    mocker.patch('pyramid_mailer.mailer_factory_from_settings', mocker.Mock())
+
     from appenlight import main
     import transaction
     current_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
@@ -91,6 +92,8 @@ def default_data(base_app):
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def clean_tables(request):
+    from appenlight.models import Base, DBSession
+
     def fin():
         tables = Base.metadata.tables.keys()
         transaction.begin()
@@ -106,6 +109,7 @@ def clean_tables(request):
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def default_user():
+    from appenlight.models import DBSession
     from appenlight.models.user import User
     from appenlight.models.auth_token import AuthToken
     transaction.begin()
@@ -124,6 +128,7 @@ def default_user():
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def default_application(default_user):
+    from appenlight.models import DBSession
     from appenlight.models.application import Application
 
     transaction.begin()